Electric plashing device



BEST AVAILABLE COP:

Oct. 12, 1926. 1,602,586

J. w. PHELPS ELECTRIC FLASHING bEvIcE Filed May 24. 1924 16 =1: 1 mi; a I. i M 1 2 M 2 v I I I frame/2Z0? Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES BEST AVAILABLE COP.

JAMES W. PHELPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC FLASHING DEVICE.

Application filed May 24,

My invention relates to improvements in automatic electric flashers or cutouts, and has special reference to such cutouts of the general form disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 1,476,022, dated December a, 1923, wherein is disclosed a cutout device adapted to be interposed in circuit between a lamp and its socket.

A particular object of my invention is to simplify the construction and reduce the manufacture cost of such devices.

I accomplish my main object by providing a porcelain insulation member so formed that it will readily receive the thermostatic device and the central contacts for the socket and the plug at the opposite ends of the device.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of an insulated head on the adjustable contact screw of the device, whereby the frequency of the brealm or flashes can be changed while the device is. in circuit without danger of shock.

A further feature relates to the simplicity of the device as a whole, comprising a metal tubular member providing a plug at one end and a socket at the other, the inner porcelain member which carries all of the connections and the thermostatic device and an insulating shell or cover.

For a clear understanding of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure l, is a longitudinal central section of the device on the line 11 of Figures 2 and 6;

Figure 2, is a similar sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, is an end view looking at the plug end of the device;

Figure 1, is a side elevation of the inner unit;

Figure 5, is a plan view of the inner unit at right angles to Figure 1, the metal members being shown separated from the insulation member;

Figure 6, is a cross section on the line 66 of Figure l; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

In said drawings 10 illustrates a metal tubular shell member formed into a screw socket shell 11 at one end and a screw plug 12 at the opposite end, whereby the device can be readily interposed between a lamp 1924. Serial No. 715,553.

and its socket when it is desired to cause the lamp to flash. This shell is made of a length to accommodate the parts which are housed therein. In addition to the termi nals provided at the two ends by the shell 10, I provide centrally located terminals at each end also. These central terminals together with the thermostatic circuit breaker and the necessary connections are constituted by a unit member shown separately in the drawings and designated 14:. This unit member comprises a body member made of porcelain or other suitable insulation substance. preferably cast or pressed into form and hardened. This member comprises a head 16 at one end formed suitable for closing the opening at the plug end 12 of-the shell 10, and a head 17 at the opposite end suitably formed to close the bottom of the socket 11. The heads are connected by a central longitudinally extending flat wall 18 which is thick enough to make the member substantial and thin enough to provide space at each side thereof for the necessary connections and the thermostatic device.

The thermostatic device comprises a bimetallic strip 19 which extends through a slot 20 in the head 16 and projects near one face of the wall 18 toward the opposite head 17. The outer end 21 of this strip is bent over adjacent to the outer end 22 of the head 16 to form the center contact for the plug end of the device. This member is secured in place by a bolt. 23 which passes through an opening 24 in the wall 18. The opening 24 is made in the form of a deep notch entering from one edge of the wall and permitting the assembly of the bolt with the member 20 before attachment to the body member 15. The slot 20 in the head 16 opens through the edge of the head, whereby the bi-metallic strip can be formed complete, that is, the outer end bent over before it is mounted on the body member 15, and by loosening the bolt 23 the thermostatic member can be readily removed, without distortion, from the body member 15. The inner end portion 25 of the bimetallic strip stands free from the adjacent side of the central wall 18 and is wound with an insulated coil wire 26, which is adapted at times to heat the strip and distort it. While I have illustrated the coil as shunt connected it is obvious that however the coil is connected the bi-metallic til) strip canaunc'tion to open and'close'a circuit in accordance with the flow of current.

Similar to the head 16, the head 17 is likewise provided with a slot 27 for receivingto the'slot 2;, of the wall 18, and be assembled with the strip before the strip is put inplace. Zn rapid manufacturing proccs'se'ssuch separate assembly of parts is of great advantage in thesaving of time andflabjor. The inner end 33 of the strip 2'8 ishen't back parallel'with itself and spat d slightly from the body portion, and

this end and the body portion are. prothroughisamefaiidits free end is adapted the otflij l" screw 36"is provided wit 38'fso that'th the amer naidz the adjusting hanin'sulatio'n head connecting the coil 26. of the thermof static devicein'lshunt,- one end .Of'the coil isfconnect'ed "tothbi-metnllic bar at 39 bv .so ei-ing, andthe other end 40'is carried around the edge "of the 1 wall "18 which is opposite the several notches 'and is carried to '.the 'contact'plat'e'28 to which it is clamped by the nutgol the 'serew er- The-edge of v the wall 18 ispro ided withfa notch l in "which the end otthe icoil is located to retainiit' against contacting with the metal lic shell. The metal tube 101i cut away etfonefplacega's', shown atiAZ, topermit a hub portion e 5 foiiitlie;.s'c'r'ew. head '38 to cnterthrough the shell. "The. tubular. casing being in the circuit i'sprotected by an enclosmgtub'e 4A of insulation, preferably some form" of fibre, and th s outer covering is provided with anb en'in r 45 in which thc A. D

part43 of the head 38 fitsgfreely, and thereby thesc'rew and the outer casing are dowelled together and held against relative The slot like-wise rx-- therefore the bolt can h"thre akled' openings Z and 35.

crew 'canib'e adjusted when BEST AVAILABLE cop mo'vement'whenithe'y areassembled together.

member to its free end and back through the coil 26 to the contact member 28. Then through the lamp or whatever is mounted in the socket 11 and back through the casing clement cools on and swings out'of contact with'the screw 36, thus opening the main circuit and causingfithe'li ht to go out. Pref er bly the coil is" of suiiicientresistance to prevent the flow of enough current to light the lamp. 7 i g It wilhnowlbeclenr that my improved lashing plug 18 very simple in construction,

comprising a's it doefitheinner-part, the

metallic shell and itlieo'uter cover. The inner part can be all-assembled, except The. adjusting'screw '36," and be pushedinto place in the I tubular 'casingyfand when the adj asting screw is placed in position the parts are interlocked and held together, i

manymbdifications of myinvention will readily su'g' "st" themselves' toone skilled in the art 7 do not limit or confine myf'iiiv'gtlliio lr to f'e' spcific details of conlst'riictitithhereih shown and described except withid'thescope of the appended claims;

I claim;

1. In a"device.of the hind described, a body-of ins'filating'niateri'al, an inner metallic c onducting thermoelectric malt and break structure adapted to be'supported by thebody, said metallic structure including metallic contact strips and fasteners there- :for, said body having openings through same arranged to permit the free assembly of the preassembled metallic strips and their fastene'rs with the body me1nber,'the fastenrsatlapted to be tightened after the assembly.

2. In a device of the kind described, a tubular sh ell pr'o iding' a socket at one end and a In Figure '7, I have indicated the flow of the current through the device. The current enters at the. plug end through the center cont-act 21, then through the bi-nietallic 1,602,586 3ESTAVAILABLE COP: 3

tact member and each slot extending out through the edge of its head, whereby the contact member can be placed in position edgewise after being formed, the body portion provided with openings for receiving fasteners for said contact members, and one of said contact members formed integrally with a thermo electric element, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a device for interposition in an electric circuit for changing the flow of current therein, a bi-metallic thermostatic element having one end fixed and the other movable for opening and closing the circuit, said bi-metallic member having an integral extension of its body portion at its fixed end for forming one of the contacts of the device.

4. In a device of the kind described, a tubular metal casing forming one side of the circuit, an insulation body member within the casing, metal conducting members mounted on said body member and forming the other side of the circuit, a thermostatic element forming part of the inner circuit, an adjustable screw for contact with the thermostatic element, an outer tubular protective casing, and said adjusting screw having a head of insulating material adapted to retain the several parts in assembled relation.

5. In an electric device of the kind described, a body of hard insulation material for carrying various contact plates secured thereon by through fasteners, the body pro- Vided with notches for permitting said fasteners to be first assembled with their respective plates, and then placed in position on the body without disasscmbly.

6. In a device of the kind described, a preformed ri id body member, the body portion having a head, a contact plate for forming a center contact on said head, the head provided with a slot extending axially through the head for receiving a metal strip for forming said contact, said slot opening through the edge of the head to permit the contact member to be moved edgewise into position after having its end bent over to form said center contact.

7. In a flashing device of the kind described, an electrothermic responsive element, said element having a. bendable strip projecting from one end thereof bent at substantially a right angle to form a contact, an insulating head provided with a slot through which said strip after being bent can be assembled with the head to form one of the contacts of the device.

8. In av flashing device of the kind de' scribed, a preformed unitary body of insulation material formed to provide heads at the ends thereof, a thermo-electric responsive element, a metal strip extending from one end of the element and adapted to extend through one of the heads to form a contact at the outer surface thereof.

9. In a flashing device of the kind described, a body made of insulation material, metal parts and fasteners therefor adapted to be held by the body, the body provided with pre-formed slots into which the metal parts can be moved edgewise and other slots into which the fasteners can be simultaneously moved after being preassembled with the metal parts for assembling same with the body.

10. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulation material having heads at its opposite ends and provided with an open space between its heads a thermo-electric responsive element within said space having a thin metallic strip extending from one end, a second thin metallic strip secured to said body, said thermo-electric responsive element and said second strip having cooperating contacts, said heads provided with slots for receiving said strips edgewise, the outer ends of said strips adapted to be bent to form center contacts on the two heads.

11. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulation material having heads at its opposite ends and formed with a chambered space between its ends, a thermo-electric responsive make and break element in said space, a thin metallic contact strip extending from one end of said element, a second thin metallic contact strip secured to said body, the body provided with slots at its head portions for receiving said strips edgewise and said strips adapted to be bent over outside of respective heads to form center contacts for said device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of May, 192%.

J AMES IV. PHELPS. 

